Page Tools

One-third of women diagnosed with depression have suffered abuse at the hands of their partner at one time during their lives - one-quarter in the past 12 months.

Depressed women also are much more likely than non-depressed women to have been abused as children, University of Melbourne researchers have found.

"Our research shows that in treating women who are depressed, doctors should be alert to the possibility of abuse and the lack of evidence about the effectiveness of depression interventions for women experiencing abuse," said study leader Dr Kelsey Hegarty.

"Ignoring the part that partner abuse plays in depression reinforces the hidden nature of this issue for women."